BRENTFORD FC'S interest in rugby union side London Wasps amounts to nothing more than a potential groundshare, your favourite local newspaper can reveal.

An article in the national press this week named Brentford's main financial backer, Matthew Benham, as one of the interested parties in buying the Aviva Premiership side.

They have been put up for sale by owner Steve Hayes after he was refused permission to build a new sporting village for both Wasps and Wycombe Wanderers near High Wycombe. Originally from Sudbury, Wasps moved out to groundshare with Wycombe nine years ago.

However, Brentford chief executive Mark Devlin told us that although Brentford have talked to parties interested in buying Wasps, they have no interest in buying the club themselves.

He said: “I am not aware of Matthew Benham having any interest in purchasing Wasps.

“We have, however, spoken to a couple of parties who are in talks with the current owner of Wasps, and who are interested in bringing Wasps back to London.

“We have had conversations about them looking to use Griffin Park, or getting involved in any potential stadium development.”

Brentford's own plans to move to a new stadium at Lionel Road have stalled since development partners Barratt pulled out earlier this year, with the club currently looking at other potential sites in the area, as well as alternative ways of funding the original plan.

Another rugby union side, London Welsh, who currently play over the other side of Kew Bridge at Old Deer Park, have also long expressed an interest in sharing a stadium at Lionel Road, as well as playing at Griffin Park if they reach the Premiership, thus needing a bigger ground.